White Towns, Sassi & Trulli
Carved out of the impressive white cliffs of the ‘Torrent Gravina’ gorge, Matera piles history high, making for an awesome introduction to the mysteries of Puglia and a wonderful brief cycling encounter which includes not just one, but two designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Delve deep to discover more about the Sassi cave-dwellings and churches, then follow the timeless rocky landscapes across to Alberobello, a settlement of 1,500 unique ‘trulli’ houses in the verdant Valle d’Itria. Stay over in style in your own little lime-washed ‘trullo’ before steering your two wheels towards Ostuni, Puglia’s mighty, medieval ‘Città Bianca’. Read More
Europe, Italy
Any Day
Bed & Breakfast
£768.00
5 Days, 4 Nights
Jan - Nov
Grade 4 (More Challenging)
Overview
Boasting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Puglia’s impressive ‘White City’ of Ostuni, this may be one of our more challenging cycling adventures, but we believe that its rewards truly outweigh the extra effort. The first day’s ride from Matera to Alberobello is more challenging than the others as it combines hills (nothing too big) with a longer ride than normal. We believe that this option will be best enjoyed by reasonably fit or more established cyclists, with other less challenging itineraries also available in Puglia should you prefer. As always, we are happy to chat through the cycling and/or the accommodation used if you would like to give us a call.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive & explore
It’s hard to take in the sheer depth of Matera because it is simply so awesome just to look at! There are houses huddled higher and higher on top of each other with the cathedral as its pinnacle; dwellings and streets which seem to tunnel away into the rock and the most spectacular, rugged gorge, the ‘Torrent Gravina’. Lose yourself with a wander through the clambering labyrinth of tiny alleyways or burrow deep into the history of this renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site along the famous ‘Strada di Sassi’, home to just a few of the time-honoured caves used as homes, artists’ studios, shops and churches.
Overnight in Matera.
Day 2 A gorge-ous day of cliffs, caves & churches
It must be time to get on top of things. Matera’s cathedral has a mighty fine location, right on top of the spur which divides the ‘Sasso Caveso’ and ‘Sasso Barisano’ – the caves deep in the steep tufa gorge walls. The views across the massive gulf are breath-taking and it’s easy to spend a day in Matera simply wandering and wondering, but on the outskirts of town, the imposing towers and ramparts of the Castillo Tramontano reach other heights and the whole of the rugged gorge has time-honoured treasures to share. Head out along the popular Belevedere Path or pedal into the rocky hinterland on your own adventure to discover cave churches full of frescoes or maybe even the ‘Grotta dei Pipistrelli’, the haunting cave of bats!
Overnight in Matera.
Day 3 Off to Alberobello: from towers to trulli
An early breakfast is recommended so you are ready to receive your bikes. We recommend that you set out as soon as you can to make the most of a great day’s cycling as you cross the robust Sassi landscapes, leaving Matera’s towering ramparts and the Basilicata province for the softer green countryside of Puglia’s Valle d’Itria and Alberobello – the capital of indigenous trulli houses and your UNESCO World Heritage Site number two. Rugged rockscapes lead on to wooded slopes, vineyards and olive groves as the countryside begins to disclose clusters of the little limestone houses with grey conical roofs. The climax comes in Alberobello, home to over 1,500 of these fascinating single storey dwellings and one of Europe’s most unusual urban spectacles. To look at, the trulli seem a strange cross between kiln, tepee and igloo: they were originally constructed without the use of mortar, their stone roofs topped with wonderful finials and often decorated with mysterious symbols. Experience the charm of these unique historic buildings for yourself with your overnight in Alberobello in an authentic trullo house.
Miles: 47 Kms: 75
Day 4 All kinds of architecture along the Valle d’Itria
Don’t miss the tiny trullo church of Sant ‘Antonio or catch the only multi-storied trullo house, Trullo Sovrano, in the Piazza Sacramento before you set off for some rather different architectural delights in Locorotondo – the ‘balcony of the Valle d’Itria’. Here the curved trulli houses give way to box houses or ‘cummerse’, almost Baltic in style with pointed gables and plenty of straight lines. The angular shapes seem strangely incongruous with the town’s curving hillscape and circular street plan which gave it the name ‘loco rotondo’. Heading onward through olive grove and vineyard vistas, the tiny, betowered and whitewashed village of Cisternino is a charming find, but everything is on a much grander scale in Ostuni, the mighty medieval ‘Città Bianca’, both wonderfully white and lavishly Baroque and laced with every kind of history imaginable from the Greeks to Bourbons and Byzantines.
Overnight in Ostuni.
Miles: 22 Kms: 36
Day 5 Depart after breakfast
Depart after breakfast, or take time for a last wander around the town of Ostuni.
Dates & Prices
Download PricesFor tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button above
PRICE INCLUDES
Ensuite accommodation as described with buffet/continental breakfast (prices based on two adults sharing)
Hire of hybrid bicycle and ancillary equipment (single pannier and handlebar bag, pump, basic tools, spare inner tube & puncture repair equipment)
Luggage transfer between hotels
Local assistance on call (although puncture repair is excluded)
Information pack with detailed joining instructions and daily route overviews sent out approximately 2 weeks before departure so you can plan ahead and look forward to your cycling adventure
Easy to use GPS unit with pre-loaded cycle tracks
Overview notes and maps
Please note that the price EXCLUDES
City/tourist taxes in Italy
Costs of getting to and from the tour area
Accommodation Options
An unique un-rated Trullo house in Alberobello; selected 3 star hotels or better in Matera (2 nights) and Ostuni.
Options:
Upgrade to mainly 4 and 5 star hotels
We are pleased to discuss details on request.
More Information
Useful websites, travel information and tips to help you plan your journey to and from the country and location of your holiday.
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